She was born to her postmaster and teacher parents in Colwyn Bay in October 1936, She was educated at Colwyn Bay Grammar School but left at 16 to join the local repertory theatre and 2 years later enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. In July 1965 on her first day in Birmingham for rehearsals for her part in Crossroads she met solicitor Stanley Shorrt and they married 18 months later. She then dropped out of acting to raise their two sons, Simon and Griffith, before resuming her career in the 80's